Eprints

EPrints is an open-source software platform for building and maintaining institutional and subject repositories, with a focus on open access to scholarly output. It provides deposit tools, metadata management, configurable workflows, and long-term preservation features. The system is designed to enable researchers to self-archive papers, theses, datasets, and other research outputs, which then become accessible through a web interface.

Originating at the University of Southampton, EPrints was first released in the early 2000s. It has since been adopted by universities, libraries, and consortia worldwide to operate institutional repositories and manage research information.

EPrints emphasizes interoperability and supports the OAI-PMH protocol for metadata harvesting, as well as export options for common formats. It offers customizable metadata schemas, full-text search, browsing, and deposit workflows with access controls. The platform is designed to be extendable through plug-ins and theme customization.

The architecture centers on a flexible data model consisting of items, files, collections, and associated metadata, stored in a configurable backend. It is distributed as open-source software and is supported by a community of users and providers who offer installation, customization, and maintenance services.

EPrints has played a role in the growth of open access by helping institutions meet funder mandates and improve discovery and reuse of scholarly outputs. It remains an active option among repository platforms and continues to be updated with new features and security enhancements.